Born on this day in 1925, an actor portrayed Caractacus Potts in a 1968 film adaptation of an Ian Fleming story. Who is he and what was the film?
Two
The first European to sight the South Island of New Zealand did so on this day. Who was he, and in what century did this sighting occur?
Three
In 1956, the film Anastasia was released in America. This drama marked the Hollywood comeback of an actress following a scandal involving an extramarital affair. Her performance earned her the Best Actress Oscar. Who was she?
Four
The final moonwalk or EVA of the Apollo programme occurred on this day in 1972. Which Apollo mission was this and who were the two astronauts on the Moon?
Five
What singer-songwriter was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania on this day in 1989?
The theme for today’s questions repeats yesterday’s: five words, each beginning with a different letter — W, O, R, D, and S. Each word appears in the Oxford English Dictionary and is presented below with three possible meanings. Simply choose the correct one for each.
Widdershins
A. Small shears; secateurs B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise C. Woollen leggings; gaiters
Answer: B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise
adverb mainly Scottish English in a direction contrary to the sun’s course, considered as unlucky; anticlockwise: she danced widdershins around him.
– ORIGIN early 16th century: from Middle Low German weddersins, from Middle High German widersinnes, from wider ‘against’ + sin ‘direction’; the second element was associated with Scots sin ‘sun’.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Omasum
A. An estate held in absolute ownership, without acknowledgement to a superior. B. A hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization. C. The muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal
Answer: C. The muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal
noun (plural omasa /əʊˈmeɪsə/) Zoology the muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal, between the reticulum and the abomasum. Also called psalterium
– ORIGIN mid 16th century: from Latin, literally ‘tripe’, probably from Gaulish.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Rhinal
A. In Palaeontology relating to unicorns B. The scientific study of water loss from riverine systems C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain
Answer: C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain
adjective Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain.
A. One who is an identical twin B. An adolescent male kangaroo or wallaby C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin
Answer: C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin
noun (plural dubbos) Australian English informal, derogatory an unsophisticated or unintelligent person, especially someone from the countryside; a bumpkin: why was she working with such a bunch of dubbos?
– ORIGIN 1980s: from the name of a famous farming town in New South Wales.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Shadoof
A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water B. A shadow-like spectre C. A Jewish professional matchmaker or marriage broker
Answer: A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water
noun a pole with a bucket and counterpoise used especially in Egypt for raising water.
– ORIGIN mid 19th century: from Egyptian Arabic šādūf.
The theme for today’s questions repeats yesterday’s: five words, each beginning with a different letter — W, O, R, D, and S. Each word appears in the Oxford English Dictionary and is presented below with three possible meanings. Simply choose the correct one for each.
Widdershins
A. Small shears; secateurs B. A direction contrary to the sun’s course; anticlockwise C. Woollen leggings; gaiters
Omasum
A. An estate held in absolute ownership, without acknowledgement to a superior. B. A hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization. C. The muscular third stomach of a ruminant animal
Rhinal
A. In Palaeontology relating to unicorns B. The scientific study of water loss from riverine systems C. Anatomy relating to the nose or the olfactory part of the brain
Dubbo
A. One who is an identical twin B. An adolescent male kangaroo or wallaby C. An unsophisticated or unintelligent person; a country bumpkin
Shadoof
A. A pole and bucket system to collect well water B. A shadow-like spectre C. A Jewish professional matchmaker or marriage broker
Today’s questions focus on five words, each starting with a different letter: W, O, R, D, S. These words are all found in the Oxford English Dictionary. Each word is listed below with three definitions, so simply select the correct one for each.
One
Welkin
A. A barrel with a capacity of 12 pecks (24 gallons) B. A grandchild C. The sky or heavens
Answer: The sky or heavens
noun literary the sky or heaven.
– ORIGIN Old English wolcen ‘cloud, sky’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch wolk and German Wolke.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Two
Ouabain
A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside B. A two-wheeled cart C. A witches potion
Answer: A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside
noun [mass noun] Chemistry a toxic compound obtained from certain trees, used as a very rapid cardiac stimulant. It is a polycyclic glycoside.
– ORIGIN late 19th century: via French from Somali wabayo, denoting a tree that yields poison (used on arrow points) containing ouabain.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Three
Regolith
A. Unified register of official documents. B. An order of reptiles characterised by a bony plate shell covered in horny scales. C. The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering a planet’s bedrock.
Answer: The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering the bedrock of a planet
noun [mass noun] Geology the layer of unconsolidated solid material covering the bedrock of a planet.
– ORIGIN late 19th century: from Greek rhēgos ‘rug, blanket’ + -lith.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Four
Deemster
A. An apprentice printer B. A judge C. A person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge
Answer: A Judge
noun a judge (of whom there are two) in the Isle of Man judiciary.
– ORIGIN Middle English (originally a general word for a judge): from deem + -ster. The current sense dates from the early 17th century.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Five
Starets
A. A magnesium flare
B. A spiritual leader
C. A Vietnamese roasted snake dish
Answer: A spiritual leader
noun A spiritual adviser, often a monk or religious hermit, in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
A religious adviser (not necessarily a priest) in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Today’s questions focus on five words, each starting with a different letter: W, O, R, D, S. These words are all found in the Oxford English Dictionary. Each word is listed below with three definitions, so simply select the correct one for each.
One
Welkin
A. A barrel with a capacity of 12 pecks (24 gallons)
B. A grandchild
C. The sky or heavens
Two
Ouabain
A. A poisonous white crystalline glycoside
B. A two-wheeled cart
C. A witches potion
Three
Regolith
A. Unified register of official documents
B. An order of reptiles characterised by a bony plate shell covered in horny scales
C. The layer of unconsolidated solid material covering a planet’s bedrock.
Four
Deemster
A. A printer’s apprentice
B. A judge
C. A person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge
In 1962, David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which went on to became one of the most celebrated epics in the history of cinema, had its world premiere. Who starred as _ _ Lawrence, and what two initials are missing before his surname?
Answer: Peter O’Toole (as) T.E. (Lawrence)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British historical epic biographical adventure drama film directed by David Lean. It portrays Thomas Edward Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman provinces during World War I and his involvement in the Arab National Council. The film, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It follows Lawrence’s journey from a military cartographer to a leader of the Arab Revolt against the Turks, and is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes, shot on location in Jordan, Spain and Morocco.
Two
Which government officially surrendered on this day in 1932 after a month-long battle against thousands of large flightless birds, and what were the birds?
Answer: Australian; Emus
The Emu War was a brief and unsuccessful 1932 military operation in Australia aimed at controlling the emu population, which was damaging crops in Western Australia. Three members of the Royal Australian Artillery were tasked with culling approximately 20,000 emus using machine guns, but the weapons and tactics were ineffective. Despite petitions from local farmers, the campaign, which lasted from November to December, resulted in fewer than 1,000 emus being killed and became a subject of national and international ridicule.
Portrait of Ada, Countess of Lovelace (Ada Lovelace), c1840. Image Wikipedia
Three
Ada Lovelace, often regarded as the first computer programmer, was born in Marylebone, London. In which decade was she born, and who was her famous father?
Answer: 1810s; Lord Byron
Born in 1815, Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, was an English mathematician and writer renowned for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. She recognised its potential beyond mere calculation and developed a vision of computers’ capabilities, leading to her being considered the first computer programmer. Her contributions are celebrated on Ada Lovelace Day.
Four
In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Which former First Lady of the United States chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that was responsible for the drafting of the document?
Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, is a foundational document of international human rights law. Drafted by a team including John Humphrey, Eleanor Roosevelt and René Cassin, it comprises 30 articles outlining civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Although not legally binding, the UDHR has achieved significant moral authority and has influenced numerous international treaties and national constitutions.
Five
The first part of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the English-language general encyclopaedia, was published and advertised for sale on this day. In what century and in what city did this occur?
Answer: 18th century; Edinburgh,Scotland, United Kingdom
The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1768 by a group of Scottish gentlemen. Initially released in three volumes, it introduced a “new plan” by combining treatises on arts and sciences with short articles on technical terms, catering to both serious students and those seeking quick reference material. William Smellie, an Edinburgh printer, is credited with devising this plan and writing or compiling many of the articles. The encyclopaedia transitioned from print to digital in 2012 due to strong competition from digital encyclopaedias like Microsoft Encarta and Wikipedia, yet it maintained its reputation for authoritative and scholarly content and is now available exclusively online.
Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication.
The title of today’s post is the first sentence of the preface to the first edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.
“UTILITY ought to be the principal intention of every publication. Wherever this intention does not plainly appear, neither the books nor their authors have the smallest claim to the approbation of mankind” . So begins the preface to Britannica’s 1st edition, which began publication 250 years ago this month (on December 10, 1768). Encyclopædia Britannica via Instagram
In 1962, David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which went on to became one of the most celebrated epics in the history of cinema, had its world premiere. Who starred as _ _ Lawrence, and what two initials are missing before his surname?
Two
Which government officially surrendered on this day in 1932 after a month-long battle against thousands of large flightless birds, and what were the birds?
Three
Ada Lovelace, often regarded as the first computer programmer, was born in Marylebone, London. In which decade was she born, and who was her famous father?
Four
In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Which former First Lady of the United States chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that was responsible for the drafting of the document?
Five
The first part of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the English-language general encyclopaedia, was published and advertised for sale on this day. In what century and in what city did this occur?
Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.
The first question directly relates to today’s date, December 9th. The others follow the road traffic theme introduced in the first question.
The Westminster street semaphore, from the Illustrated Times, 16 January 1869. Copyright the British Library Board via the British Newspaper Archive. Image Londonist.com
One
In 1868, the world’s first traffic light began operation in which city?
Answer: London, United Kingdom
Designed by railway engineer JP Knight and installed at Parliament Square, Westminster, this gas-powered semaphore signal was manually operated by a police officer. However, a gas leak and subsequent explosion led to its removal just a month later. This delay significantly hindered the adoption of traffic lights in Britain.
Two
According to Guinness World Records, which road—stretching over 24,140 km (15,000 miles)—is recognised as the world’s longest motorable road?
Answer: Pan-American Highway
See three below
Three
Continuing from question two, despite being the world’s longest motorable road, driving its entire length isn’t possible. This is because there’s a section at approximately 7.9° north latitude where there’s no road. What’s the common name for this interrupted stretch?
Answer: Darién Gap
Guinness World Records describe the Pan-American Highway as going from Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, to Panama and then—after shipping their vehicles to Colombia or Venezuela—to Santiago, Chile, and then east to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Rio de Janeiro and Brazilia in Brazil. Wikipedia starts/ends the route at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, United States, to Puerto Montt, Quellón, Chile, or Ushuaia, Argentina. Encyclopædia Britannica says …from Alaska and Canada to Chile, Brazil, and the southern tip of Argentina. The Darién Gap is a remote and dangerous rainforest area on the Colombia-Panama border, acting as a natural barrier between North and South America. Its inhospitable terrain, lack of roads or other infrastructure, and presence of criminal enterprises make it a perilous route for travel and migration. Despite these challenges, it has become a major migration route for individuals from Haiti and Venezuela seeking to reach the Mexico-United States border.
Four
Introduced in the UK in 1951 and named after its distinctive striped pattern, which type of pedestrian crossing quickly became a road-safety icon?
Answer: Zebra Crossing
The first official zebra crossing was unveiled in Slough. Its black-and-white design and Belisha beacons dramatically improved pedestrian visibility and contributed to a significant drop in road accidents.
In 1888, the wife of a German inventor made the first long-distance car journey. This German inventor had received a patent in 1886 for what is widely considered the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. Who was the lady who made the long-distance car journey?
Answer: Bertha Benz (wife of Karl Benz)
In 1888, Bertha Benz embarked on the first long-distance car journey without informing Benz himself. This demonstrated the vehicle’s practicality and effectively staged the world’s first car publicity stunt. Encyclopædia Britannica describes it as…
Benz’s journey with her sons marked the first long-distance journey in an automobile. The trio travelled from Mannheim to Pforzheim in about 13 hours, driving on about 60 miles (96.6 km) of unpaved roads. Karl was notified of the Motorwagen’s success by telegram. During the journey, Bertha made several repairs with simple on-hand items. She used her garter to fix the ignition and her hat pin to unclog a blocked fuel pipe. They even stopped at a pharmacy in Wiesloch to purchase a few litres of Ligroin from a chemist. Ligroin was a cleaning agent that served as petroleum fuel for the single-cylinder engine motor. (To this day, many consider this pharmacy the world’s first fueling station.)
On the journey back, the Motorwagen’s brake blocks wore out. Benz had a cobbler fit the brakes with leather strips, thus inventing brake pads. Through her trip, she proved to naysayers that the Motorwagen had potential and helped make improvements on its design. Along the way, she and her sons had to push the Motorwagen uphill, so she suggested that Karl add a third, lower gear and brake pads to his next model. These suggestions were implemented in all of the following models. — Encyclopædia Britannica
The first question directly relates to today’s date, December 9th. The others follow the road traffic theme introduced in the first question.
Image attribution will be shown in the answer post.
One
In 1868, the world’s first traffic light began operation in which city?
Two
According to Guinness World Records, which road—stretching over 24,140 km (15,000 miles)—is recognised as the world’s longest motorable road?
Three
Continuing from question two, despite being the world’s longest motorable road, driving its entire length isn’t possible. This is because there’s a section at approximately 7.9° north latitude where there’s no road. What’s the common name for this interrupted stretch?
Four
Introduced in the UK in 1951 and named after its distinctive striped pattern, which type of pedestrian crossing quickly became a road-safety icon?
Image attribution will be shown in the answer post.
Five
In 1888, the wife of a German inventor made the first long-distance car journey. This German inventor had received a patent in 1886 for what is widely considered the first practical automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. Who was the lady who made the long-distance car journey?
John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).
Answer: Here Today
Composed as a heartfelt tribute to John Lennon, this song expresses the emotions Paul felt he couldn’t fully convey to him during their time together. It’s structured as an imagined conversation exploring their affection, regret and complex friendship. McCartney performs it frequently at concerts as a dedicated moment for Lennon. McCartney featured on George Harrison’s tribute song All Those Years Ago (1981) alongside Ringo Starr on drums. McCartney, Linda and Denny Laine provided backing vocals. The post title In My Life is a Beatles song from their 1965 album Rubber Soul.
Two
The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?
Answer: 1660s (1660)
Margaret Hughes, also known as Peg Hughes, is widely regarded as the first professional actress to appear on the English stage. She made theatre history on 8 December 1660 when she played Desdemona in Othello, a landmark moment that signalled a major shift in Restoration-era drama, as women began performing publicly for the first time. Anne Marshall, another pioneer, is also sometimes credited with being the actress to appear on this date.
Three
Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?
Answer: 1540s (1542)
Mary, Queen of Scots, ascended to the throne at six days old. After marrying Francis, Dauphin of France, she became queen consort of France until his death. Returning to Scotland, her reign was marked by religious and political turmoil, culminating in her forced abdication and imprisonment. Seeking refuge in England, she was perceived as a threat to Elizabeth I and executed after being found guilty of plotting against her.
Four
In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?
Answer: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed in 1991 by Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, replacing the USSR. There were eventually twelve former Soviet republics as members, including the Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; and the Transcaucasian republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; and Moldova. Notably, the former Soviet republics in the Baltic area—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—declined to join the CIS.
Five
…an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture
Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?
Answer: The Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American war drama film about three Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are changed by the Vietnam War. The film, directed by Michael Cimino, received critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
